Come to the Cabaret
WHEN:
Date: Sunday, 28th August 2022
Shows at: 5pm & 8pm
BOOKINGS:
Tickets: $20/$15
Bookings: Click here to book your tickets
DETAILS:
A cabaret concocted in one-week from nothing, but a word given to the cast by a random word generator as stimulus. What will it be about? Will it have songs about diamonds or goats? Will it be set in a hotel or in Wagga? Will it just be songs with the word ‘King’ or ‘wild’ in the title? (All these examples were also generated by a random word generator too). Who knows?
Roll up. Stop by. Come see what tomorrow’s cabaret stars come up with!
The Cabaret Winter Workshop Graduate Performance showcases the participants’ work devising and producing a completely original cabaret out of nothing but a random word. Working with the course artistic director Queenie van de Zandt, and musical director, the participants will create a one-off performance which will be performed by the participants alongside their core tutor and cabaret legend, Queenie van de Zandt, on the final night of the course.
So as the song goes, “put down the knitting, the book and the broom and come hear the music play” and watch a night of brilliant entertainment by tomorrow’s cabaret stars.
PERFORMERS:
Queenie van de Zandt
Queenie is one of Australia’s leading ladies of musical theatre and cabaret, renowned for her incredible versatility as a performer having worked extensively in musical theatre, plays, cabaret, on television and film, and as a recording artist, comedienne and writer, along with being Australia’s leading teacher of audition technique for musicals. Career highlights include, on television: The Newsreader and Very Small Business (ABC); in theatre: Women of Troy and Abigail’s Party; on film: Girl Clock; in musical theatre: Into the Woods and King Kong and in cabaret: Smoke & Mirrors and Moments in the Woods. Through Amazon Woman Enterprises, Queenie develops and performs her original work. Highlights include: 4 albums, her award-winning show BLUE: The Song of Joni Mitchell and projects involving her cult alter-ego, Jan van de Stool. Queenie has been nominated for 20 major theatre awards for her work in musicals, theatre, cabaret and television, winning 7 times.
Sarah Ison
Sarah is a comedian who has performed across Australia including at the Adelaide and Perth Fringe Festivals. Sarah runs numerous comedy venues across Canberra and has hosted variety nights at Smiths Alternative bringing together the best of Canberra’s cabaret, circus, burlesque and comedy talent. Sarah, says she enrolled in the course because she is keen to learn about Cabaret and add what she takes from the workshop to my shows, expanding them from purely comedy to a more interesting and entertaining performance
Travis Moore
Travis was born in Maryland where he grew up in the Baptist church with a large musical family. Travis moved to New York in the early 2000s where he performed in various piano bars all over the city and surrounding areas. Travis says he enrolled in the course because he has always want to learn more about the musical style of cabaret.
Sarahlouise Owens
With diverse and extensive performing experience, Sarahlouise returned to Australia after a 12-year opera career in Europe, where she worked in many notable opera theatres including: Bayreuth Wagner Opera Festival, Frankfurt, Hannover, Cologne Radio, Brussels Monnaie, Paris Chatelet and began teaching and conducting various choirs. She has also done many concert recitals with Art Song Canberra, and Wesley Music Centre, as well as established small ensembles to perform various genres of music; particularly the unknown. I have also performed with Canberra Repertory. Sarahlouise says she enrolled in the course because she has a project that she’s been sitting on for several years, trying to find the correct medium to tell the story, having failed to find a writer. I know little about cabaret and reckon it’s the way to tell this amazing story of an incredible historical figure.
Gemma Rose Hewitson
Gemma has a Certificate IV in Acting from Perform Australia. She has a love of theatre and music and has performed in choirs and open mic nights around Sydney and Canberra and gala nights put on by Perform Australia. She has also been involved with the Young Theatre Company and is excited by the idea of creating art. Gemma says she enrolled in the course because she loves performing and is always interested in learning more and training more.
Kim Yang
Inspired by Joni Mitchell and Bon Iver, Taiwanese-Australian songstress Kim Yang writes music on love, life and mental health issues with evocative lyrics, driving melodies and soaring vocals. Her ethereal blend of sounds balances delicately between vulnerability and power. Kim recently serenaded big crowds at the National Folk Festival and Sydney Folk Festival with her genuine stage presence and stories from both Taiwan and Australia. There is always something heartfelt to take home from Kim’s show. Kim says she enrolled in the course because she wants to explore new ideas for my regular folk festival shows with more audience participation involved. I’d also like to add in more cultural elements to my shows.
Janie Lawson
Janie has performed in many theatre restaurants; cabaret shows and theatre productions in Canberra and the USA. She most recently appeared as Lita Encore in Ruthless with Echo Theatre Company and as a Diva in Priscilla Queen of the Desert with Free Rain. Some of her most memorable roles include Charity Hope Valentine (Sweet Charity), Ursula (Little Mermaid), Sally Bowles (Cabaret), Muzzy (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Demeter (Cats), Judy Garland (Boy from Oz), Anita (Westside Story) and Madame Thenardier (Les Miserables). She has also entertained local and interstate audiences as a member of vocal trio ‘The Stilettos’ for almost a decade. Janie says she enrolled in the course because she wanted the opportunity to work with Queenie and other experienced artists to develop some ‘kick arse’ cabaret material with my very dear, talented friend Tina.
Deborah O’Toole
Deborah has had a varied career performing in cover bands, studio recordings, film, television and music theatre. Highlights include ABBA Tribute Show BABBA, 10th Anniversary Tour of Les Miserables (Cameron Mackintosh) and The Dusty Springfield Show (Art, Cackle and Hoot Productions). In 2002, Deborah enlisted as a vocalist in the Australian Army Band and has since performed on concert stages throughout Australia. She has also travelled overseas extensively to perform for deployed troops and major ceremonial occasions including Anzac Day at Gallipoli and the Edinburgh Tattoo. Deborah is delighted to return to theatre style performance during the Cabaret Winter Workshop and says she enrolled in the course to learn more about securing performing engagements at Cabaret Festivals, promotion and the logistics of getting the show on the road.
Chelsea Heaney
A Monash University Theatre and Performance graduate, Chelsea is an active and ardent member of Canberra’s musical theatre and stand-up comedy communities. In 2019, Chelsea received a Canberra Area Theatre Award for “Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical” for her performance as Martha and Ms. Fleming in Heathers: The Musical (Dramatic Productions, 2018). She has been a supporting act for comedians Akmal Saleh and Demi Lardner, and in 2021 she co-wrote, produced, and performed the two-woman comedy show Growing Pains for sold-out Canberra audiences, before taking it down south in 2022 for her Adelaide Fringe Festival Debut. Chelsea says she enrolled in the course because she is keen to gain the knowledge and skills to be able to produce, perform and market my own work.
Tina Meir
Tina’s career in entertainment commenced at Tarzan’s Theatre Restaurant in 1992 where she appeared as a regular cast member. On stage, Tina has played the role of ‘Yum Yum’ in ‘Hot Mikado’, ‘Annas’ in Jesus Christ Superstar and has understudied the role of ‘Carrie’ in Carousel. In 2003 Tina relocated to Sydney & performed in cabaret shows ‘Here’s to the Ladies’ and ‘Class n all That’. Screen credits include appearances in TV Commercials, the ABC Telemovie ‘MABO’ and the ‘Political Thriller’ TV series ‘The Code’. Tina is also a founding member of The Stilettos, a female vocal trio that is widely recognised for their ‘Andrew Sisters Tribute Show’ and close harmony vocals. Tina says she enrolled in the course because it is a fantastic opportunity to develop skills as a writer, get out of my comfort zone, explore new performance directions, and to learn from highly experienced and talented creatives. I am very excited to work with Queenie!
Ebony Gagel
Ebony has performed in 3 shows with Queanbeyan Players. Her first was The Music Man in 2016, followed by Oliver! in 2019, Sound of Music in 2021 and the successful encore season of the Sound of Music in 2022. Ebony has also performed in The Christmas Channel by Budding Theatre in 2017 and Grease the Arena Spectacular by Harvest Rain in 2018 and loved the big dance numbers. Also with Harvest Rain, Ebony participated in the Youngstars Workshop learning and performing alongside stars such as Silvie Paladino and Rhonda Burchmore. Ebony has been dancing from a very young age and is currently part of a tap troupe, TAP Kix with Bom Funk dance studio. Ebony says she enrolled in the course because she loves performing and would take any chance to learn from the best to improve!
Lee J. Collier
Lee’s had various roles in musical theatre such as Nancy in Oliver, Rosalia in West Side Story, Cinderella, Babe in the Pyjama Game and performed 2 seasons with Dirty Dicks Theatre Restaurant. She’s worked as a Variety Artist in clubs and corporate work with multiple bands. A prolific Songwriter, Lee came to prominence in the country music arena when her song,”65 Roses” became a Gold Hit in Australia and New Zealand. She was nominated for APRA Song of the year, WON the Tamworth Songwriter’s Award for Contemporary Country Song of the Year, New Songwriter and Children’s Song of the Year and was a Golden Guitar Judge at this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival. Lee signed up for the course to further develop her show and learn from Queenie and her talented team.
Marcel Cole
Marcel loves to perform. He trained as a dancer, but the theatre is where his heart lies. After many years at the Kim Harvey School of Dance and then the New Zealand School of Dance, he has returned to the theatre and has just finished a Cert IV in Acting at Perform Australia. He sings too and has recently started playing the ukulele. Marcel loves the colour that comes when different art forms combine to create rich theatrical experiences. Marcel says he enrolled in the course because he loves performing in front of a live audience and wants to explore cabaret’s potential to build a relationship with an audience. I also love the multi-disciplinary nature of cabaret.
Miriam Slater
Miriam is a Canberra based Queer interdisciplinary artist working primarily with theatre, comedy and live art. They have won awards for their performances in the Fringe circuit with comedy duo Sweaty Pits (New Zealand Tour Ready Award Sydney Fringe Festival, Nominated Best Comedy Melbourne Fringe Festival) and Little Dove Theatre Art (Best Circus Adelaide Fringe). In 2022 they were awarded one of the Creative Recovery and Resilience Program Residences, focusing on their interest in community access and inclusion in the arts. Miriam’s work is often concerned with the Queer bodies, identity, and representation to reframe performance and live art. Miriam says they enrolled in the course because they are keen to upskill in the area of producing theatre/cabaret.
Natalie Russell
Natalie has been deeply involved in the performing arts community since a young age. Their most recent performances include: Big Night Out (2019) (Battle of the Bands event), Australian National University; Women’s Revue (2019), Australian National University; Medea (2019), Ursula Hall; and Be More Chill (2021), Budding Theatre. Natalie has a strong passion for musical theatre and looks forward to utilising the knowledge learnt during this cabaret experience to help further their career. In their spare time, Natalie likes crocheting, drinking tea, and playing D&D. Natalie says they enrolled in the course because, they see it as a great opportunity to learn more about the craft of creating and producing a show, how to promote themselves as a performer, and meet some incredible new people in the process.
Ylaria Rogers (She /her)
Ylaria Rogers is a Canberra based director, actor, dramaturge and producer in the early stages of her career. Ylaria has collaborated across Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and London, this includes working with The Street Theatre, Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centre, Tuggeranong Arts Centre, National Capital Orchestra, National Capital Opera, Hayes Theatre, Victorian College of the Arts, and her own production companies, Heart Strings Theatre Co and Freefall Productions. Across these productions and companies, she has worked on a significant amount of new writing work as a director, actor and more recently, dramaturg.
Deborah O’Toole
Deborah has had a varied career performing in cover bands, studio recordings, film, television and music theatre. Highlights include ABBA Tribute Show BABBA, 10th Anniversary Tour of Les Miserables (Cameron Mackintosh) and The Dusty Springfield Show (Art, Cackle and Hoot Productions). In 2002, Deborah enlisted as a vocalist in the Australian Army Band and has since performed on concert stages throughout Australia. She has also travelled overseas extensively to perform for deployed troops and major ceremonial occasions including Anzac Day at Gallipoli and the Edinburgh Tattoo.
Air Guitar Android
This artist has loved performing ever since their Mum tied a homemade red superhero cape around their shoulders. They grew up being told that they could be whatever they wanted to be, if they followed their passion, treated others with love and respect and held their own moral compass proudly in front of their heart. They have extensive experience in childhood and teen theatrical performances, hold a BA in Visual Arts from Australian National University and have a deep passion for music, the performing arts and connecting with other people, via art and everyday life. Their practice incorporates a love of all forms of music with visual and production elements drenched in visceral Sci-Fi, Post-Apocalyptic Wastelands and the tenderness of a human heart.
Harper Stanier
Harper has been a dancer since the age of four, beginning with ballet classes and now as a pole dancer. Harper has performed in many dance company productions, school showcases, and pole showcases. Harper received a high school subject award for dance at the end of year 12 and has interests in merging pole dancing and burlesque performance styles.
Alex Chambers
Alex has trained as a singer for over 20 years through private singing lessons and vocal groups. Alex has had a love of Musical Theatre for many years, appearing in Oliver! and The Wizard of Oz with Packemin productions and City of Angels with SYMT. Most notably, Alex played June Wright in the 2018 production of The Devil’s Caress (Factory Space Theatre Company), and wrote and performed Fangirl, a cabaret based on my interest in Doctor Who and meeting other fans in Cardiff, which one People’s Choice for the week in the 2015 Short and Sweet competition.
Ebony Gagel
Ebony has been doing local theatre productions for a number of years now. She has done 3 shows with the Queanbeyan Players; The Music Man in 2016, followed by Oliver! in 2019, and The Sound of Music playing Brigitta, in 2021 and for the encore season in 2022. Ebony has also performed in The Christmas Channel by Budding Theatre in 2017
and Grease the Arena Spectacular by Harvest Rain in 2018 and loved the big dance numbers. Ebony also completed a workshop with Harvest Rain in 2018 learning and performing alongside Silvie Paladino and Rhonda Burchmore along with many others. Ebony has been dancing from a very young age doing Ballet and Jazz and is currently part of a tap troupe, TAP Kix with Bom Funk dance studio. Ebony has also been taking singing lessons with Heather Keens for a few years now which she really enjoys.
Katie Cole
Katie has extensive performance experience. With a Bachelor of Music (Sydney University) and a post-grad singing diploma (ANU School of Music) she has performed complete operatic/oratorio roles for Canberra Academy Of Music and various Canberra based choirs; done some music theatre (Prince Orestes/La Belle Helene, in London; Mrs Barnum/Barnum the Musical, at the Street Theatre Canberra); is currently a singing/ukelele tutor at Music For Canberra, as well as Musical Director of Canberra’s ‘Andante Andante Abba Choir’, and freestyle violinist, in a guitar/violin duo. Katie’s my first love is busking on the streets, connecting with people doing their daily rounds, through music on the streets.
Shawnah Cady / MadB
They’re non-binary and a multi-faceted performer and artist from creative arts and writing to Drag! With work featuring in numerous national festivals and shows including accomplishing a few firsts including Canberra’s first fully POC show ever and a contributing writer and performer in Lost in Transit! They’re a parental unit to four biological children and a many many many drag children! Whether they be drag or just gender diverse and seeking a mama figure to help along the way! Presenting Mama MadB!